Author Topic: Earthing question for Tim ! (Read 5252 times)

Custom79 · « **on:** September 24, 2005, 08:19:56 AM »

Hi Tim,
Just following up what was said in my other thread mate.
If my 70's Les Paul hasn't got an earth how or where do you wire one in ?

Cheers for the tip, hope this works and I'll post some Powerball + Cold Sweat clips soon :D

HJM · « **Reply #1 on:** September 24, 2005, 10:10:17 AM »

you need to run a wire from the bridge to the control cavity - easiest is drill a small hole from one of the bridge stud holes into the cavity. Get a small spring (pickup mounting spring or smaller), solder the wire to the spring - this will give you good contact with the stud. then poke the wire back into the control cavity and solder onto the back of a pot with all the oher grounds.

Hope that makes sense! :P

Tim · « **Reply #2 on:** September 24, 2005, 03:39:37 PM »

Getting bridge or tailpiece studs out of LPs is very tricky but HJM is correct, this is where you need to get an earth wire to.You need to ground the control cavity(run a wire from the rear of a vol pot) to the bridge so that when your hand touches the bridge you're grounding yourself out through the guitar and amp.HJM posted a thread quite a while ago on how alot of people mistakenly think the ground wire is to earth the guitar..............it's to ground out you, the player as you're the source of the noise.The guitar controls are already connected to ground via the jack socket, by grounding the bridge to the electrics you're providing a ground for yourself.
Fitting a groundwire on a LP is very tricky and it's worth getting it done properly as the last thing you want is for it to come off mid gig.
Hope this helps!

_tom_ · « **Reply #3 on:** September 24, 2005, 03:51:52 PM »

hmm I think I need to do this or something to my Epi, coz theres a buzzing, and each time I touch something metal, it goes away.. seems like a bitch to do though

Tim · « **Reply #4 on:** September 24, 2005, 07:12:50 PM »

If the buzzing stops when you touch the strings or any other metal part of the guitar then it's earthed and doing it's job.I'd be surprised if an Epi wasn't fitted with an earth wire.

Custom79 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 24, 2005, 07:18:24 PM »

Quote from: Tim

If the buzzing stops when you touch the strings or any other metal part of the guitar then it's earthed and doing it's job.I'd be surprised if an Epi wasn't fitted with an earth wire.

My buzzing stops if I touch the pickups, selector switch surround, jack socket but NOT if I touch the strings, tailpiece or bridge.

Cheers for all the advice guys I really appreciate it and just hope I can get sorted next week as I have a gig on Saturday and really want to use the Les Paul.
Tim, I wish you lived in Newcastle then you could sort me out once and for all mate

By the way one of my best mates shared a bill with you last year I think ? he's called Billy Charlton, guitarist in Maiden England and Iron Maiden tribute from Newcastle.

Tim · « **Reply #6 on:** September 24, 2005, 07:52:16 PM »

There you go, all the parts that have a ground connection stop buzz when you touch them so it's clear you haven't got an earth wire going to the bridge.Get it done ASAP and your problem will be solved.

I remember doing a show with the Maiden England boys, in Carlisle I think, great bunch of lads.Pass on my regards!

Custom79 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 24, 2005, 08:00:49 PM »

Quote from: Tim

There you go, all the parts that have a ground connection stop buzz when you touch them so it's clear you haven't got an earth wire going to the bridge.Get it done ASAP and your problem will be solved.

I remember doing a show with the Maiden England boys, in Carlisle I think, great bunch of lads.Pass on my regards!

When I told Billy I was buying my pickups he said he'd heard good things about them, then I told him a bit of your background and he said' $%&#ing hell, I gigged with him, I've met him he's a monster player'.
He loved your band, your playing and your tone and since I mentioned your pups he's never stopped talking about Ozzmosis, all good stuff !!

PhilKing · « **Reply #8 on:** September 24, 2005, 09:25:53 PM »

Depending on the type of studs in the Les Paul, you can pull them with a long bolt. You screw it in place of the stud itself and then you can put a pair of pilers to it and pull it (just pull straight). A better way is to run it through a block of wood that is hollowed. As you tighten against the wood block it pulls the stud up from the body.

StewMac sell a tool to do it. but I have managed without it. I think if I was working on a lot of guitars it would be worth it, but for the odd one or two, the bolt works.

dpmasunder · « **Reply #9 on:** September 24, 2005, 11:56:49 PM »

I use the same method. A bolt with the correct thread that pulls the stud up into a gap in whatever. Just make sure your 'whatever' has some protective covering on the base to avoid damaging the finish, and make sure there is no finish overlapping the stud that might get caught and pull chips off. Best thing is that your hollow 'whatever' fits pretty close to the stud size so it's supported.
If in doubt get a pro to do it.

Custom79 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 27, 2005, 06:23:06 PM »

Well Tim you were spot on, no earth to the bridge !!
Got one fitted today and it makes heaps of difference and now I can tell just how powerfull those Cold Sweats are ......... F**CKING HELL TIM !! the whole guitar is alive they are so strong !!!
My tone quest is complete now ....

'79 LP Custom + Cold Sweats + Engl Powerball = HEAVEN !!!!!!

Thanks for all the help ! :D :D :D

HJM · « **Reply #11 on:** September 27, 2005, 07:59:58 PM »

No more white noise...excellent!

Glad it's sorted!

(now go make some noise....)

Tim · « **Reply #12 on:** September 27, 2005, 08:24:49 PM »

Great............useful thing this forum :D